Fiddle



Dec. 28, 1948. L R, BECKMAN FIDDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 10, 1948 Dec. 28, 1948. J. R. BECKMAN FIDDLE l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l0, 1948 WN FN M my@ @UT m @www T: QN N ski mak .m lllxvr .WN \W\ lnb` .WNLM 2\ ImNN bmi atten/m 5 Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,457,629 y v FIDDLEv Joseph R. Beckman, Stockton, Calif.

Application May 10, 1948, Serial No. 26,200

This invention relates to an improved musical instrument in the style of a violin and the like.

f It is an object of this invention to provide an improved musical instrument of the kind to be more -particularly described hereinafter which is formed generally on the basis of a violin frame yet formed in such a manner that the construction thereof is greatly simplified whereby the instrument may be manufactured and distributed at a reasonable price.

Another object of this invention is to provide amusical instrument of this kind which may be distributed at a price substantially lower than the cost of conventional violins for students, thereby providing a low price instrument which embodies the tonal qualities of a violin and offers a similar finger board for the development of the violin students fingering technique.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a musical 4instrument `of this kind having a substantial solid base over which is mounted a pair of sound boards whereby a substantial and strong instrument is provided while maintaining a tone quality similar to a violin.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, comblnation and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved musical instrument constructed according to an embodiment of my invention- Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the instrument.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detailed side elevation showing the relation of the sound boards to the elongated wedge member.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed section showing the connection of the tail piece to the rear end of the base member.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally an improved musical instrument somewhat similar to the violin for use 4 Claims. (Cl. 847-275.)

2 primarily bymusical students which instrument may be manufactured without the intricate structure and formation of the musical box which conventionally is employed in the structure of aviolin. .A w i I f The musical instrument |0 is formed uof an elongated base member having the scroll I2 formed on the front end thereof and the chin rest Ilformed as an integral part of the rear end of the base. The scroll `I2 which may be formed integrally with the front end of the base member is of va conventional styling having a neck ,|5,

and a downwardly offset rear end I6 for engagement with the front end of the base member II.y

The plane of the neck I5 is vertically offset from the normal plane of the` elongated base member and the chin rest |4vis disposed on substantially the. same planeas the base member itself.

yA finger board I1 of conventional formation is mounted on the neck I5 of the scroll I2 and extends rearwardly beyond the offset connection I6 over the base member A nut I8 is fixed on the front end of the finger board I1 to provide a bearing surface for the strings I9 mounted on the instrument. A pair of sound boards 2|) and 2| are xed on the base member I I over the lower bar thereof between the bar 22 and the finger board I1. The sound boards 20 and 2| are fixed at the front end to the neck I5 by engaging in a notch 24 formed therein. The sound boards 2|) and 2| are secured together at their front end by glue or other suitable fastening means and are spaced apart at their rear end. A supporting post 25 is fixed between the base bar 22 and the lowermost of the sound boards 2|. The supporting post 25 is disposed rearwardly of the downward extension I6 of the neck for engagement with the lower sound board 2| intermediate the length thereof.

A pair of elongated triangular wedge members 26 are fixed between the two sound boards 20 and 2| and extend rearwardly of the connection at the front end thereof. The wedge members 26 are fixed to the sound boards by glue or other suitable fastening means at the front end thereof leaving the rear end of the wedge members free from a fixed connection to the sound boards. In this manner the vibration transmitted to the sound boards may be more readily amplified than if the two sound boards were rigidly connected together throughout the entire length. In the normal use of the instrument the sound boards are in engagement with the wedge members although they may be separated by the vibration in the use of the instrument.

A rear post as 21 is fixed on the rear end of the base member Il and is provided with a pair of notches or grooves 28 within which the flexible connection of the tail piece may be engaged for securing the tail piece to the base member. The flexible connecting member 29 is fixed on the rear end of the tail piece 30 and engages in the grooves 28 and engages about the lower edge of the rear end of the base member Il. A bridge as 3l is mounted on the sound board 20 between the sound board and the strings I9. The strings I9 are connected between the tail piece 30 and the nut I8 on the scroll and engage over the bridge 3|` in a conventional manner. In this Way the strings i9 are spaced above the linger board I'l along the length thereoi` in a manner similar to the conventional violin.

The sound boards 20 and 2| are substantially elllptical in cross section throughout their length as the surfaces of each converge toward the peripheral edges. The sound boards are of a tapering longitudinal section where the upper and lower surfaces of each board converge to- Ward the rear. The rear ends of the sound boards 20 and 2| are thus spaced apart at their rear ends.

I claim:

1. An improved musical instrument of the kind described comprising an elongated base member, a violin scroll on the iront end of said base member, a pair of overlying sound boards extending from said scroll spaced above said base member, a finger board on said scroll spaced above said sound boards, a bridge on the uppermost sound board, and an elongated triangular wedge member between said sound boards spacing the rear end of said sound boards in spaced relation one to the other, and a supporting block between said base member and the forward end of said sound boards.

2. A musical instrument of the kind described comprising an elongated base member, a violin scroll on one end of base member', a pair of sound boards extending from said scroll over said base member and spaced therefrom, a pair of triangular wedge members between said sound boards for spacing apart the rear end of said sound boards, a supporting block between said base member and said sound boards adjacent the iront end thereof and means securing said wedge members at the front end thereof to said sound boards.

3. A musical instrument of the kind described comprising an elongated narrow base member, a violin scroll at the front end of said base member, a chin rest on the other end of said base member, a pair of overlying sound boards spaced above said base member, elongated triangular members between said sound boards along the length thereof spacing apart the rear ends of said sound boards and a finger board extending from said scroll spaced above said sound boards.

4. A musical instrument of the kind described comprising an elongated narrow base member, a violin scroll at the front end of said base member, a chin rest on the other end 0I said base member, a pair of overlying sound boards spaced above said base member, elongated triangular members between said sound boards along the length thereof spacing apart the rear ends of said sound boards, a ringer board extending from said scroll spaced above said sound boards, a tail piece, means securing said tail piece on the rear end of said base member, a nut on said scroll, a bridge on said sound boards, and violin strings between said scroll and tail piece engaging over said bridge.

JOSEPH R. BECKMAN.

No references cited. 

